I'm looking to lease a MCS and am intrigued by the prospect of leasing a JCW and then selling it at lease-end. If the residual is the same (not sure if it will be) as the MCS, that means a $31k JCW will lose $10-11k in value over 3 years - from what I've seen, 3-year-old JCW's bring much more than $21k with reasonable mileage. On the same token, the MCS retains value well, but how well compared to a niche/specialty car like the JCW? I went to the stealer the other day and they had an '06 with a few options that they wanted $30k for . The JCW has several options as standard that I would be adding to the MCS anyway, and the lease payment would be ~$50-75/month more than the MCS I had built on the configurator. My question is - do you think the JCW will hold its resale that well to sell for a premium over the buyout at least end? If so, more than the MCS would?

 

Of course noone ever knows what their 3 year old car will bring when they buy it, but my guess is that a JCW will bring a bit of a premium over an MCS because they'll be harder to find used. Either way you'll lose about 1/3 of your money when you sell it, more on the JCW of course, 'cause it costs more. But the fact that it's a JCW may make up a little of the gap.

 

.30 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR PUT INTO A CAR... or you wait until someone wants it and as you wait the price goes down.....

 

The MC has better residual values than the MCS, so I would guess that the JCW would be even less. Not certain, but just a guess.

 

I'd say it's because the MC is harder to find. In the US about 2/3 of Minis are the MCS. The JCW will be really hard to find.

 

You also might find that you won't want to sell it, which raises whole other reasons for buying it.

 

i would assume MINI fanatic liek me would love ot have a JCW..

 

My guess is that the JCW will only add about half or a little less what you paid extra for to get it at sale or trade-in.

 

rule never buy options to get better resale value buy them cause you want them. and you will not regret it.

 

What are you saying here? That a 3 year old MCS is worth 30% of its original price? So a $30k MY05 MCS can be bought now for $9k?

 

I think the point being made is that options do not really increase the value of the car when it is used. Here in the US, all the dealers use Galves to determine the value of used cars. And on most cars, except for leather, sunroof, and an auto tranny, none of the other options matter in determining the value of a used car. You can have a $2000 nav, $500 premium stereo, $750 premium wheels, and $500 heated seats, and your car will still be worth the same used as another one without all those features. You never get your money back for the options.

 

I'm not talking about the options - I'm talking about the car itself. Would a niche car like a JCW tend to hold its value better than it's "standard" MCS counterpart? Same thing with something like an 03/04 Cobra or the like.

 

Niche car requires a niche buyer, you actually limit your potential audience. Get it if you like having a "pumped up" car that is covered by a full factory warranty. That's the true value of the JCW package. Much better than 'modding' a vehicle, IMO.

 

I suppose it depends on the vehicle. It's a matter of supply and demand.